Spancil Hill

There is an Irish ballad called Spancil Hill, which starts with the lines -

It was on the 24th of June, the day before the fair,
When Ireland's sons and daughters were all assembled there.
The young, the old the brave and the bold, their duty to fulfil,
At the little church at Cluny, a mile from Spancil Hill.

Today is the 23rd and the horse fair was in full swing. Although I'm sure it must be much smaller than in days of yore, the sights and sounds are still incredible.
We saw four lads racing around to catch a wild young donkey, a boy about eight walking along quite happily leading a huge bucking and rearing stallion, a drunken man in only his socks being dragged out of a van and dumped in the mud and the Gardai (police) blocking an aggressive fella from entering by bouncing him off their chests as he went for them.

Not exactly romantic like the song but definitely an entertaining day out.